The government is now considering upgrading silo technology with help from Argentina. India will also work with Argentina in agricultural research

India may bring in Argentinian technology for developing economical warehouses to overcome the storage problem for food grains, Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said today.

“We are in search of good technology in areas of silos and warehouses, which is less expensive. Argentina has the technology and it has offered support,” Mr. Pawar told reporters after a meeting with his Argentinian counterpart Julian Andres Dominguez here today.

The government is facing a shortfall of 15 million tonnes of storage capacity on the back of bumper procurement of wheat and rice in last two years.

“We have conveyed the Minister that we have produced more food grains in India for the last two years and just to strengthen our public distribution system, we have procured more. We are facing a gap in storage capacity. To fill this gap, we are in search of good technology,” he said.

Stating that Argentina has developed less expensive silos which can curtail 15 per cent losses, Mr. Pawar hinted that a decision on bringing in the silos technology may be taken during his visits to Argentina following a request from Mr. Dominguez.

The minister said the two countries have also agreed on working together in the area of research as the Latin American country “has some strength”, particularly in areas of pulses and oilseeds.

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